Outcome-based education (OBE) means clearly focusing and organizing everything in an educational system around what is essential for all students to be able to do successfully at the end of their learning experiences. This book examines the issues critical to understanding and implementing OBE. Chapter 1 addresses a range of issues related to the meaning of the term "outcome-based education." It defines key terms and concepts and describes the foundations of genuine outcome-based models. The second chapter links current interest in OBE to global socioeconomic changes. Chapter 3 examines some important issues surrounding the meaning of outcomes and how they are derived. Four major trends are identified in the fourth chapter--classroom reform, program alignment, external accountability, and system transformation. Chapter 5 shows how the effects of OBE on students and schools depends on which implementation approach is used. Common misconceptions about OBE are clarified in the sixth chapter. The final chapter discusses future directions of OBE, in particular, how to sustain it over time. OBE appears to have a viable future if democratic processes and strong professional norms prevail in society and education, respectively. Twenty-five figures and a glossary are included. (LMI)

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